Antisiphon spout and spray fixture



Allg 26, 1952 R. E. BLTCHER r-:r AL 2,608,412

` l ANTISIPHON SPQUT AND SPRAY FIXTURE Filed Dec. 18, 1946 vwcmtomPatented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFicE,

ANTISIPHON SPOUT AND SPRAY FIXTURE ertson) Application December 18,1946, Serial No. 717,036

13 Claims. 1 j'fhis invention relates to .pressure control ttngs andflow diverter valves for controlling flow of liquid to either of twooutlets from the same ,source of supply. -This invention is directed toimprovementsover the valve assemblies shown in the Bucknell and BletcherPatents Nos, 2,172,345, granted September 12, 1939; and 2,314,071,granted March 16, 1943. The principal object of this invention is toprolvide an anti-Siphon spout and spray fixture, including adouble-acting v`alve which is effective to direct flow` alternatelythrough the spout andthe spray outlets under control of a valve onthespray outlet and` also to provide anti- Siphon means to prevent backflowfrom either of the outlets, in the event that suction should occur inthe supply line.

Another object is to provide a unitary valve assembly of this type,employing a tubular valve through either oftwo outlets, which assemblyincludes a tubular valve element and a ball check Valve" adapted toclose the opening in the tubular check valve when the liquid isdirectedto either `of the outlets and to function as a check valve toprevent backow through the inlet, in the `event oi failure of pressurein the supply line.

, Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.`

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section; showing the generalarrangement of parts employed in connection with my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, Von an enlarged scale,of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a preferred form of valve assemblyembodying my invention, the parte thereof being in position for a normalilow through the spout;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the parts in position fornormal ow through the l spray nozzle; l

Figure 5 is a View similar to VFigures 3 and 4,

K showing the position of the parts, in the event that suction shouldoccur in the supply line;

. l Figure 6 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale,

showing details of construction of certain of the v`stantiallyon theline 'I--Las shown in Figure 6.

Va counterbore 38.

In the drawings, the hot water `supply line I0 and the Coldwater supplyline I| are each provided with a valve I2 and I3, respectively,controlled from the handles I4 and I5, extendingupwardly through theWall of a supporting element im, which may be a sink or washbasin, orthe like. Downstream from the valve I2 is a lateral pipe I5a, which isconnectedwith the bore I6 in the cross-over fitting I1. Also connectedto the bore I6 in the cross-over fitting I1 is a lateral pipe I8, whichconnects to the downstream side of the valve |3. The cross-over fittingI'I is carried at the lower end of the threaded tube I9 having a iiange20 at its upper end. A central 'tubular element in the form of pipe 2|is threaded into the fitting in communication with the bore I6, `and itstands upwardly through the threaded tube I9 in coaxial relationship. l

An elbow 22, threaded into the lower end of the cross-over ntting I`| isconnected to a flexible tube 23. leading to a spray xture 24, providedwith a spray nozzle 25 and a, manually operable valve 26. The valve 26is normally closed by the springv 21. The valve 26 may be opened bymanually depressing the knob `28. A passageway 29, within the cross-overflttingUI'I, communicates with the elbow 22 and with the annulus 313between the threaded pipe I9 and the tubular element 2 I.This'passageway 29 does not communicate with the bore I6 within thecross-over tting V A valve housing 3| is secured onthe flange 26 by anyconvenient means, such as threads 32. A guide 33 is provided with acentral aperture 34 for reception of the tubular element 2|. .Ports 35are provided in the guide 33 to establish `cornmunication from theannulus 30 to the chamber 36, formed within the valve housing 3|. A bore31 within the valve housing 3| extends upwardly from the chamber 36 andterminates at Depending into the bore 31 is the lower end 39 of thehousing spout4l'l. The lower end 39 oi the spout 4D is axially threaded,as shown at 4|, to receive corresponding internal threads in the cup 42,which slides into the upper end ofthe bore` 31. An annularshoulder 43.encircling theupper end of the Acup 42, is adapted to be received withinthe counter 'bore 38.` The swing spout-4U and cup 42 are Vvmaintained inpositionlby the threaded Tgland 64, and the gland may be provided with accmpressible packing ring |55.` The bottom 44 ofthe cup 42 is providedwith a central opening 45. Extending through this central opening 45 isa Vtubular valve element 4t. having a central passageway 4'I and aeoaeic3 a downwardly facing truste-conical valve surface 4B.

The tubular valve element t5 the opening 55 and also through the centralopening 45 in the upper end of the' cage 55. A

plurality of spaced lugs 5I are provided on thev upper end of the cage55 Aior Contact with the I through the flange 55, within which theopening la is provided. Y

The cage 5t is provided with concentric bores 55, 51 and 58, which areprogressively smaller, in the order named. The bore 58 Vforms a slidinglit with the upper end of the tubular element 2i and a packing ring 59may be provided to seul the joint rbetween the bore 58 and the Vextermilperiphery of the tubular element 2l. A nonmetallic ball 56 is mountedwithin the bore 51 of the cage 55 and is moved into such positionthrough the bore 53. The ball 55 passes inwardly throughthe bore 53, andis retained in place by the seal ring 59 which is placed in positionafter the ball 5D has been inserted. A packing ring 62 encircles thecage 55 to provide a Y.

sliding seal within the bore 31 in the housing 3 i.

In operation, liquid admitted through the laterals a or IB, or both,passes upwardly through the central tubular member 2| and into theinteriorof the cage 55. The pressure of the stream issuing from thetubular element 2l causes the ball 65 to seat Within the anged portion52 at the lower end of the tubular valve 45, thereby closing the opening51. As shown in Figure 3,

the cage 55 is raised within the bore 31 and the f lugs 5I contact thebottom 44 of the cup 5.2. Liquid then Iiows from the tube 2! around theball 55 upwardly through the windows 53 and around the tubular valve 45,through the opening The liquid then passes` upwardly and is dischargedthrough the open-ended swing spout di?. rIhe above description ofoperation presumes that the spray valve at the end of the flexible line23 remains closed. The cage 53, under such conditions, is raised by theliquid-pressure, because the total pressure of the liquid above the cageis less Ythan theV total pressure below itg.

A metering discharge 'port 531exte'nds through the wall of the cage 5i),one end terminating at the'shoulder 5|, adjacent the bore 51, and theother end communicating with the lower chamber 36 Within the tting 3l.When the spray valve 26, at the end of the flexible liney 23, is opened,a iiow of liquid passes from the interior ofthe cage 50, through themetering discharge port 53, and into the chamber 35, and downwardlythrough the annulus into the line 25. When the valve 26 is open, Ytheparts take the position shown in`Figure e, the cage being moveddownwardlyV by pressure Within the bore 31 above the cage. YThe ball 50closes the lower end of the tubular valve 55 to prevent flow through thepassageway '41. The metering effect of the orice 63 in relation to therelatively free flow through hoseY 23 and valve 25 causes pressure abovethe cage to be ygreater than in chamn ber 35. The cage 50 appliesadownward force on the flange 52, at the lower end of the element d5, andthus pulls the valve surface d3 into seal'- ing contact with the valveseat 66, at the upper extends through ,K

4 end of the opening 45. The parts are proportioned so that the valvesurface 4S engages the valve seat 65, before the lower end of the cage5,5 strikes the guide 33. With the parts in the position shown in Figure4, flow from the tubu- 1iar member 2'! passes into the bore 51 in thecage 55 and outwardly through the discharge passage 53, as stated. Nonow of liquid occurs into the swing spout 53, because the opening 45 isclosed by the ball Sii. Upon closing of the valve 25 at the spraynozzle, the parts return to the position shown in Figure 3, so long asliquid is being supplied'through one or both of the laterals 15a and I3.V

In the event that suction should occur in the supply lines l0 lor il,when the Valves I2 and i3 are open, means are provided for preventing abackfiow into the tubular delivery pipe 2|. As shown in Figure 5,suction within the pipe reduces pressure within'tne cage 53, causing theball 5B to seat on the upper end of the tube 21,'thereby closing off thesupply'passageway, It is immaterial, therefore, whether the remote valve25 is open or closed, since the ball 5o prevents backiiow from eitherthe spout 45 or the spray line The valve E55 drops awayirom the hangedreceiving cup 52, at the lower end of the valve l5 and, hence, opens thechamber Within the cage 5G to the'spout Il@ and to the atmosphere,through the opening Q1. The spray line 23 is also in open communicationwith the chamber Within the valve 53, by Way of theannulus 30, chamber35, and discharge port 53. The principal danger to be guarded against'isbackflow through the spray line 23; when the discharge e du.

nozzle 25 might be submerged, in'impure Water. Y

As illustrated in Figure 5, closing of the inlet pipe 2i, by theresilient balljmpevents backflow into the supply pipe of such impure orcontaminated waterror other fluid. Should the seal between the balletand the upper end of the pipe 2i be imperfect, any leakage would merelydraw through the open-ended spout 45.

' An advantageous feature of our invention lies in the fact that uponunthreading ther gland 64, the entire operative valve assembly,including the cup valve 45, cagev 5 5, ball Si), and the resilientsealing rings 59, 52, and 55 may be Withdr-awn upwardly through the bore31, as a unit, for inspection, repair or replacement.

Having fully described ourinvention it is to he understood that we donot Wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but ourinvention of the full scope of the appended claims.V

We claim:

i. In a devicefor directingliquid from a single inlet through either oneof two outlets, the cornbnation or a iioating Vvalve element associatedwith one of the outlets"andiclosingopposite to the direction of normaliiowthrough said outlet, Y

a passageway formed axiallythrough said element, means to move saidelement to closed'position including a movable member associated withsaid liquid inlet, valve means associatedl with the movable member andVadaptedY to close thejpassageway in thevalve element'in response topressure from the liquid inlet, and actingv to seal off the inletVagainst backflow from the' other outlet in the event of negativepressure occurring in the inlet.` ,1'

2. Ina device'for directing lliquid from'a. single inlet through eitherone of two outlets, the combination of a floating valve elementiassociated with one of the outlets'andxclosing oppositeV to thedirection of normal flow through said outlet,

a passageway formed axially through said element, means to move saidelement to closed position including a cage associated with said liquidinlet, valve means in the cage adapted to close the passageway inthevalve element in response to pressure from the liquid inlet, and actingto seal oi the inlet against backflow from the other outlet in the eventof negative pressure occurring in the inlet.

i 3. In a device for directing liquid from a single inlet through eitherone of two outlets, the combination of a valve housing, a floating valveelement associated with the housing and one of the outlets, the valveelement closing opposite to the direction of normal flow through saidoutlet, a

passageway formed axially through said element,

a bore in thehousing, a cage slidably mounted in the bore andadapted tomove said element to closed position, means establishing communicationbetween the inlet and the interior of the cage, a ball in the cageadapted to close the passageway in the valve element in response topressure from the liquid inlet, said ball acting to seal off the inletagainst backflow from the other outlet in the event of negative pressureoccurring in the inlet.

4. In a device for controlling iiow of liquid from a single inlet to oneof two outlets, the combination of a valve housing having a centralbore, a cage slidably mounted in said bore, means establishingcommunication from the inlet tothe interior of the cage, valve meansincluding a movable valve element adapted when closed to prevent owthrough one of said outlets, said valve element being operativelyconnected to the cage whereby movement of the cage in the bore in onedirection may close the valve means, said valve element having a centralpassageway axially therethrough, and a ball in the cage adapted to closethe passageway under pressure of liquid in the cage.

5. In a device for controlling ow of liquid from a single inlet to oneof two outlets, the combination of a valve h-ousing having a centralbore, a cage slidably mounted in said bore, means establishingcommunication from the inlet to the interior of the cage, valve meansincluding a movable valve element adapted when closed to prevent owthrough one of said outlets, said valve element being operativelyconnected to the cage whereby movement of the cage in the bore in onedirection may close the valve means, said valve element having a centralpassageway axially therethrough, a ball in the cage adapted to close thepassageway under pressure of liquid in the cage, and a lateral dischargepassage in the cage communicating from the interior thereof with theother outlet.

6. The sub-combination comprising a tubular cage, relatively smallopenings in opposed ends of the cage communicating with a relativelylarge chamber within the cage, a movable tubular valve element extendinginto one of said openings, the exposed end of said element having avalve head ythereon provided with a sealing face adapted to seat in adirection toward said cage, and the other end of said element beinglarger than the cage opening to prevent disassembly of the valve elementand cage, an axial passageway through said valve element, and a movableelement insertable into the chamber through the other open-ing adaptedto seal 01T the axial passageway in the tubular valve element.

7. The sub-combination compri-sing a tubular cage, relatively smallopenings in opposed ends of the cage communicating with a relativelylarge chamber within the cage, `a stationary member having acentralaperture defining an upwardly facing valve seat, a movablevtubular valve element extending through said aperture and one of saidopenings, one end of said element having `a valve head with a downwardlyfacing sealing surface adapted to cooperate with said seat,ian axialpassageway through said valve element, and a movable element insertableinto the chamber through the other opening and movable upwardly to sealoff the axial passageway in the tubular valve element.

w8. The sub-combination comprising a tubular cage, `relatively smallopenings in opposed ends of the cage communicating with a relativelylarge chamber within `the cage, a movable tubular valve elementextending into one of said opening-s, the expo-sedend of said elementhaving a valve head thereon provided with a sealing surface vfacing thecage, `and the other end of said element being larger than the openingto prevent disassemblyA of the valve element and cage, an axialpassageway through said valve element, and a check valve insertable intothe chamber through the other opening yadapted to seal off the axialpassageway. i

9. In a device for controlling the direction of liquid iiow in acombination :Hx-ture having a liquid inlet and two liquid outlets, thecombination of va bore in the fixture, a cage slidably received withinthe bore, a tubular valve element extending into one end of the c-ageand having a passageway axially therethrough, a valve seat associatedwith the iixture adapted to cooperate with a valve tace on said elementt-o prevent flow around the valve element to the first of the outlets,the liquid inlet including a stationary pipe extending into the otherend of the cage in telescopic relation, a ball in the cage adapted toclose off the passageway under pressure of liquid delivered through saidinlet pipe, a chamber in the xture operatively connected to the secondof said outlets, and a discharge port leading from ythe interior of thecage.

10. An anti-siphon valve assembly for-directing a liquid through one oftwo outlets from a single inlet, having in combination a movable valvemember for controlling flow to the first outlet, a cage adapted to movethe valve member to closed position, an inlet pipe telescopicallyreceived within the cage and extending into and with the interior of thecage, a discharge passage in the cage communicating with the interiorthereof and with the second outlet, and a ball in the cage adapted toclose the inlet pipe against reverse flow from said outlets.

l1. In a device for diverting liquid through one of two outlets from asingle inlet, the combination of a valve housing having an axial bore, astationary inlet pipe projecting axially into said bore, one of theoutlets being in communication with one end of the bore and the otheroutlet being in communication with the annulus between the bore and theinlet pipe, a valve assembly within the housing including a memberslidably mounted within said bore, said member having an openingreceiving the inlet pipe in telescopic relation.

12. In a device for diverting liquid through one of two outletsfrom asingle inlet, the combination of a valve housing having an axial bore, astationary inlet pipe projecting axially into said bore, one of theoutlets being in communication with one end of the bore and the other 7outlet being in communication with the annulus between the bore and theinlet pipe. a cage slidably mounted in'said bore and having an axialopening receiving the [inlet pipe in telescopic relation, a stationaryValve seat associated with said housing and positioned in the path offlow to one of said outlets, a tubular valve element extending throughand adapted to close on said seat in a direction opposed to thedirection of flow to said outlet, an aXial opening through said valveelement, interengaging means on the cage and valve element whereby axialmovement of the cage within the bore may close the Valve, said meansincluding a valve seat, a movable valve element in the cage adapted tocontactv said Vseat to close said axial passageway under pressure offluid from said inlet pipe, a lateral discharge passage communicatingwith the interior of the cage and with the said annulus, said elementbeing adapted to prevent backow through the inlet pipe in the eventsuction should occur at the inlet. 1

13. In a device for diverting liquid through one of two outlets from asingle inlet, the combination of a valve housing having an axial bore, astationary inlet pipe projecting axially into said bore, one of theoutlets being in communication with one end of the bore and the otheroutlet Vbeing in communication with the annulus between the Ybore andthe inlet pipe, a cage slidably mounted in said bore and having an axialopening receiving the inlet pipe in telescopic relation, the cage havinga lateral opening establishing communication from the interior of thecage toV said annulus, said lateral opening being sufficien-tly small sothat flow` from the inlet pipe to said second outlet causes a pressuredrop from the 'interiorof the cage tovsaid annulus, packing means on thecage engaging the axial bore in sealing relation, the cage having portsextending through the wail thereof on the opposite side of said packingmeans from said annulus whereby a pressure dierential is establishedVacross said packing means for Amoving the cage within said bore, andcooperating valve elements on the cage and housing for interruptingcommunication between the Vinlet 'pipe and the iirst of said outletsupon movement of the cage under said 'pressure dii'er'e'ntial. Y

YRALPH E. BLETCHER.

CLARENCE H. BENTLEY.

ERNEST II. BUCKN'ELL.

REFERENCES CITED The ollewing references are of record in the file ofthis patent.:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,091,980 Steinberg Mar. 31,1911i '1,726,102 Forman Aug. 27, 1929 1,999,514 McLean Mar. 7, 1933A1,955,495 Hack Apr. 17, 1934. 2,002,630 Eckhouse May 28, 1935 2,172,345Bucknell Sept. 12, 1939 2,324,690 Gardiner July 20, 1943 2,387,906ABuchanan Oct. 16, 1945

